Crook, R (2023) An exploration of the concept of identity in people who use drugs and their substance-related decision making. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool John Moores University.

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Abstract

Obtaining a greater understanding of the meanings and motivations for the consumption of drugs is an important part of targeting drug-prevention and harm reduction strategies, particularly when considering why people continue to use drugs after initial experimentation, or where there may be a high probability of harm. By exploring the concept of identity in people who use drugs (PWUD) and how this affects their substance-related decision making, it may be possible to broaden understandings of use and develop more relevant and responsive interventions. This programme of PhD research explored the development and expression of drug-related identity in young adults, and sought to understand how drug use and the associated lifestyles and practices featured as part of a young adult’s general identity. The research investigated how PWUD negotiate potential problems and risks associated with drug-identity related behaviour, and explored belongingness and capital in the formation and expression of identities. The design was multi-phase and used mixed methods. In the first phase, participants completed an online survey. Multivariate statistical analyses were used to identify three latent profiles of PWUD who differed on their responses to key questions concerning identity and drug use, specifically, drug-related cultural capital, differentiated normalisation to recreational drug use, and belongingness to a drug culture. The largest class consisted of those with a ‘salient drug user identity’, while belonging to the other two classes indicated either a ‘moderate’ or ‘non-salient’ drug user identity. For the next phase of research, purposeful sampling techniques were used to recruit young adults who use drugs for individual interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to examine the concept of ‘drug user identity’ in more detail. Findings generated three overarching themes, which present a framework for understanding how drug use and the associated lifestyles and practices feature as part of the identities of PWUD, and developed a concept of ‘drug user identity’, that is established, maintained, and negotiated within a broader sense of self. The project offers novel insights for understanding belongingness and capital between PWUD that can help inform targeted harm reduction strategies for different profiles of PWUD, without reinforcing stigma associated with drug use, or further marginalising other groups of people who use drugs; these include approaches to drug use in higher education settings and harm reduction approaches that consider the gendered use of recreational drugs.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Drugs; Identity; Capital
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine > RA0440 Study and Teaching. Research
Divisions:	Public Health Institute
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	05 Jun 2023 09:35
Last Modified:	05 Jun 2023 09:35
DOI or ID number:	10.24377/LJMU.t.00019607
Supervisors:	Sumnall, H, Atkinson, A and Askew, R
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/19607

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